Lead pencil



M. C. VAlL LEAD PENCIL Nov. 3, 1931.

Original Filed Aug. 11. 1922 irrt Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES lPATENT N o1-FICE MERRALL c. vAIL, or ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS,Assrerivon,Y BY MEsNn ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE WAHL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO;ILLINOIS, A CORPORATON DELAWARE LEAD PENCIL y p Application led August11, 1922, Serial No. 581354. Renewed June 29, 1927.

`This invention relates to an improved type of a metallic pencil adaptedto be easily operated and automatically opened at a predetermined timein a lead ejecting operation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a metallic pencil soconstructed that the ejecting mechanisms within the pencil casing willbe automatically released at the time a lead ejecting plunger reachesythe tip of the pencil casing.

It is also an obj ect of the invention to provide a pencil having ascrew operated mechanism therein adapted toibe moved longitudinallywithin a casing to cause outward feeding of the lead until one of a pairof tele escoping members comes into contact with the inner walls of thetapered end of the pencil casing thereby permitting a plunger. todischarge the remaining leadfrom the casingr and which mechanism causesa release of theJ lead feeding mechanisms. from the pencil casing uponfurther operation thereof.v

It is a further object of this invention to provide a metallic pencilhaving a feed screw provided with a chamber for holding extra leads,said chamber adapted to be closed by means ofan eraser. y

It is furthermore an object of this invention to provide a pencilwhereina screw operated7 longitudinally 'movable' member has a leadcarrying, spring controlled Sleeve, slidably engaged therewith andadapted to cio-act with the pencil casing to cause a plunger secured tosaid movable member to project through said sleeve to discharge the leadtherefrom when said lead is practically used u pAnother object of thisinvention is the construction of a pencil wherein a lead is adapt# ed tobe advanced or retracted by means of a feed mechanism which is adaptedto be automatically released from a-pencil casing by the continuedturning of the feed mechanism head after a lead has been discharged bymeans of a plunger working through a spring controlled lead holdingsleeve when said sleeve engages 'a stop.

Itis an important object of this invention to provide a metallic pencilof improved simple construction wherein resilient means is provided tocause release of a lead feed mechanism 4as a unit from the pencil casingafter a lead holder forming a part of said feed mechanism' hasbeenadvanced into p0- sition against the inner walls of the tapered end ofthe' pencil casing.

Other and further important vobjects of this invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the drawings and specification.

. The invention (in a preferred form) is il-V lustrated' in the drawingsand hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

VFigure 1 is an enlarged longitudinal section. of apencil showing partsin elevation and embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is va similar section showing the feed mechanism advanced intoits` furthermost'position to cause release from the casing into thedotted line position.

Figure?) is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the upper end of thepencil with the cap removed. i

Figure Llis a fragmentary longitudinal section of the lower end of thepencil showing the mechanisms in position. just beforedischarge of thelead.

Figure 5 is asimilar section showing the mechanisms just after thedischarge of the lead with the spring compressed ready to move the feedmechanisms into the dotted lin position of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 6-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 7-7of Figure 2.

As shown on the drawings:

Thev pencil comprises a metal tube or casing l-having an integralconical tip 2 at one end. The other or upper end of the casing 1 isprovidedwith a number of slots 3 affording a plurality of resilientclips 4 the ends of which are spun inwardly to afford a bead 5. The bead5 is adapted to be resiliently sprung into a peripheral groove 6 of acup or holder 7 having a slot 8 therein to permit an A iso a detent 11adapted to slidably engage in the holder slot 8 to permit the holder tobe rotated with the cap.

Rigidly secured to the apertured inner end of the eraser holder 7 is theopen end of a feed screw 12 having a chamber 13 therein for holdingextra leads 14. The feed screw 1 2 has threaded engagement with a nutmember 15 to which the ends of a pair of U- shaped outwardly bent leafsprings 16 and 17 are brazed or soldered. The springs 16 and 17 arepositioned at substantially right angles to each other and have thebights thereof rigidly secured together by solder or other suitablemeans.

' Secured to the bights of the springs 16 and 17 is the inner end of aplunger or rod 18 which is axially aligned with the feed screw 12 andprojects axially into l a cylindrical sleeve or tube 19 the inner end ofwhich is also rigidly secured to the overlapping portions of the springs16 and 17. Disposed within the tube 19 is a coiled spring 2O which seatsagainst the flanged inner end 21 of a sleeve 22 having telescopingengagement with the tube 19. The spring 2O acts to hold the sleeve 22projected so that normally the sleeve flange 21 is held in contact withthe turned in edge of the tube 19 as illustrated in Figure 4. The otheror outer end of the slidable sleeve 22 is provided with an integralflange 23 adapted for co-action with the inner surface ef the tip 2 ofthe pencil casing as hereinafter more fully described. Rigidly securedin the outer end of the slidable sleeve 22 is the inner end of a tube orsleeve 24 for holding the innerend of a piece of lead 25. The outer endof the lead holding sleeve 24 is provided with slots 26 to permitgripping of a lead 25 which projects out through the open end of thepencil casing tip 2 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4.

The operation is as follows:

Vith the pencil parts assembled as illustrated in Figure 1, the lead 25held by the slotted lead holding sleeve 24 is positioned with theWriting end thereof in the opening of the pencil tip 2. The lead isadapted to be fed outwardly as needed by rotating the cap which in turncauses rotation of the eraser holder 7 and the lead magazine screw 12.Rotation of the screw 12 causes longitudinal sliding movement of thesprings 16 and 17 which frictionally engage the walls of the pencilcasing 1 and consequently prevent rotation of the nut with which thescrew has threaded engagement. A movement of the nut 15 along the screwis thus effected thereby advancing the plunger 18 and the tube 19through the casing. The writing end of the lead is thus graduallyprojected out of the tip 2 as required.

As the lead is used up the longitudinally movable mechanism `graduallyadvances toward the tip of the pencil when the cap 10 is rotated. Thespring 2O holds the sleeve 22 projected as shown in Figure 1. When theflange 23 of the sleeve 22 comes into contact with the inner walls ofthe tapered tip 2, the longitudinal movement of said sleeve 22 isarrested. lith a continued rotation of the cap 10 the springs 16 and 17together with the tube 19 and the plunger 18 continue to advance fromthe position illustrated in F igure 4 into that of Figure 5. TWhen thisoccurs the tube 19 telescopes over the sleeve 22 and the plunger 18slides through the lead holding sleeve 24 thereby automatically forcingthe unused stub of the lead 25 out of the slotted sleeve 22 through theopen end of the pencil tip 2.

As the stub of lead is ejected by the telescoping action of the tube 19and the sleeve 22 the spring 20 is compressed against the inner flange21 of the sleeve 22 and as a result has a. reaction against the springs16 and 17 After the discharge of the stub of lead, a continued turningof the cap 10 causes a still further compression of the spring 2Osufficient to automatically force the lead feed mechanism free fromengagement with the retaining bead 5 of the resilient clips 4 into thedotted line position of Figure 2.

The lead feed mechanisms are thus released as a unit from the pencilcasing 1. The cap 10 is now removed from engagement with the slottederaser holder 7 thus adording access to the eraser 9 which is pulled outof said holder 7. One of the extra leads 14 in the chamber 13 of thefeed screw 12 is thus adapted to be removed and secured in the leadholding sleeve 24. The extra leads remaining in the screw chamber 13 areprevented from falling out by means of the eraser 9 which when in placein the holder 7 acts as a plug or stop for the opening of the chamber13.

The lead feed mechanisms may now be inserted back into the pencil casing1 and pushed inwardly forcing the resilient clips 4 outwardly to permitthe bead portions 5 thereof to spring into the groove 6 of the eraserholder 7 as illustrated in Figure 1, thereby locking the lead feedmechanism in operating position within the pencil casing.

If desired the pencil may be operated witliout the cap 10 by simplyturning the eraser holder 7. When the lead feed mechanisms are releasedfrom engagement with the pencil casing 1 the nut portion 15 of thespring members 16 and 17 has been advanced to the inner end of the feedscrew 12. The screw 12 .should therefore be turned in a reversedirection with respect to the nut 15 into the position shown in Figure 1before the lead feed mechanism is reinserted into the pencil casing.

Attention is directed to the fact that the feed screw 12 may be rotatedin one direction to cause further projection of the lead 25 or in anopposite direction tocause retraction of the lead.

I am aware that numerous details of construction of this invention maybe varied through a wide range without departing from the principles ofthis invention and I' therefore do not purpose limiting the patentgranted otherwise'than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

l. A pencil comprising a casing, a lead feed unit releasably heldtherein, and means forming a part of said lead feed unit adapted tocoact with said casing to cause release of the lead feed unit from saidcasing by a movement of the leadV feed mechanism in the lead dischargingdirection.

2. A pencil comprising a casing, a lead feed unit releasably heldtherein, and telescoping mechanism carried by said unit and adapted tocoact with said casing at the eX# treme `of the lead discharge movementto cause release of said lead feed unit from the casing. v

3. A pencil comprising a casing, a lead feed mechanism operatively andreleasably held in said casing, a plunger carried by said lead feedmechanism for advancing the lead, and means supported on said lead feedmechanism adapted to co-act with said casing whereby said lead feedmechanism first discharges the lead and then said lead feed mechanism isreleased from operative engagement with said casing.

4. A pencil comprising a casing, a lead feed mechanism operatively andreleasably held therein, and means adapted to be moved by said lead feedmechanism into engagement' with said casing to cause discharge of thestub of a stick of lead and release of said lead feed mechanism fromoperative engagement with the casing.

5. A pencil comprising a casing, resilient members frictionally engagedtherein, a screw member for advancing the resilient members through thecasing, a plunger secured to said resilient members and movabletherewith, a tube also secured to said resilient members and enclosingsaid plunger, a sleeve telescoped in said tube, a spring in said tubefor holding the sleeve projected, and a lead holder secured in saidsleeve.

6. In a pencil of the class described, the combination with a pencilcasing tapered at one end to form a tip, of a lead feeding unitoperatively and releasably held in said cas-v ing, and means adapted tobe advanced by said lead feeding unit into co-acting relation with thecasing tip to first cause discharge of the stub of a stick of lead andthen to release said lead feeding unit from Voperative engagement withsaid casing.

7 A pencil comprising a casing, a lead feed unit therein comprising afirst part rotatable with relation to the casing, said casing havingmeans engaging said first part, and a second part normally non-rotatablewith relation tothe casing but longitudinally movable lthereinuponrotation of said first part, said' second part vcarrying meansadaptedl to coactwith a portion of the casing and cause release of theleady feed unit from said engaging means bya movement of the second partinthe lead discharge direction.

8. A pencil comprising a casing,a lead feed unit thereinfcomprising afirst part rotatably associated with the casing, said casing havingmeans engaging said first part and a second part arranged to feed leadlongitudinally of said casingluponvrotation of said first part,

and means coacting with said second part and A said casing to causerelease ofthe lead feed unit from said engaging'means whenv said secondpart has substantially reached its limit of lead discharging travel.$9.- In a pencil a casing, a lead feed unit therein comprising a leadfeed actuating member rotatably associated with the casing, said casinghaving means engaging said mem ber and a plunger movable longitudinallyin said casing upon rotation of said actuating said Acasing,a leadpropeller movable longi tudinally in the casing upon rotation of theactuating member, a release means associated with the propeller andincluding a fresiliently held release member Vmounted forlongitudinalmovement with relation to said propeller, and means carriedby the casing for causing longitudinal movement of-said member withrelationl to said propeller at sub'- stantially the forward limit ofmovementof the propeller, so as to cause release ofthe lead feedingparts from the casing and permit their Withdrawal therefrom by astraight lon'- gitudinal pull. Y Y Y f Y 11. Amechanical pencilcomprising a casing, a lead feed unit therein, said casing'having meansfor operatively engaging said unit, and means forming a part of saidlead fee'd unitadapted to coact with saidv casing 'and lead feed unitto'cause the release of the lead feed unit-from operative engagementwith said casing during the linal projection only of the feeding unit.

12. In a mechanical pencil the combination of a casing, a feed unitremovable from the casing for loading, and having a head rotatablyengaging the casing, a feed screw carriedby the head, a lead carrierthreadedly engaging the screw and carrying a tube enclosing a plunger, asecond tube within the first mentioned tube and having a flanged end, aspring coiled in the first tube between you yllo

CTI

the flange and the upper portion of the tube, the second tube having apart adapted to engage a fixed part of the casing during the finalprojecting of the lead and a lead gripping sleeve carried by the secondtube.

13. A mechanical pencil comprising a barrel and a movable leadpropelling member operatively engaged by the barrel, said propellingmember having telescoping sleeves adapted'to be shifted relativelyduring the fina-l projecting movement of the propelling member, andmeans for resisting relative movement of said sleeve whereby saidpropelling member is released from operative engagement with saidcasing.

14. A mechanical pencil comprising a barrel and a tip and a movable leadpropelling member operatively engaging the barrel, said propellingmember having coneentrically disposed tubular members normallymaintained yin fixed relation and adapted to be shifted relativelyduring the feeding movement, and means for resisting relative movementof said sleeve whereby said propelling member is released from operativeengagement With said barrel.

15. A pencil comprising a casing, a lead feed actuating member rotatablymounted in said casing, a lead propeller movable longitudinally in thecasing upon rotation of the actuating member, means carried by saidpropeller and movable relative thereto, and means for resisting themovement of said first mentioned means whereby the lead feeding partsare released from said casing upon movement of said actuating member.

16. A pencil comprising a casing, a lead feed actuating member rotatablymounted in said casing, a lead propeller movable longitudinally in thecasing upon rotation of the actuating member, means carried by saidpropeller and movable relative thereto, means for resisting movement ofsaid first mentioned means, and means carried by the casing for causinglongitudinal movement of said first mentioned means with relation tosaid propeller at substantially the forward limit of movement 'of thepropeller,so as to cause release of the lead feeding parts from the casLing and permit their Withdrawal therefrom by a straight longitudinalpull.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

MEHR-ALL C. VAIL.

